Rosemary Baby

There is nothing like the scent of rosemary.  This woody, needle-like leaf is so aromatic, whether fresh or dried, and adds an incredible amount of flavor and freshness to any dish in which it is used.  This evergreen plant is similar to hemlock, but thankfully doesn’t have as deathly a reputation!One of my favorite dishes, and easiest too, is roasted baby potatoes drizzled in extra virgin olive oil, kosher salt and fresh sprigs of rosemary.  In fact, I love that seasoning combination so much, I have also spread it on raw pizza dough and popped it on the barbecue to make a delicious foccacia-like bread.  Those same ingredients are also wonderful blended with cannelini beans and lemon juice for a tasty bean dip to accompany cut veggies or toasted pita as an alternative to hummus and other dairy-based spreads.

I’ve been told a dash of dried rosemary is wonderful added to a fruit-based non-dairy ice cream or sorbet, and if you steep the fresh leaves in hot water, you can make a tea out of them.  You can also add it to vegan biscuit or scone recipes, and many choose it as a seasoning for their Thanksgiving stuffing.

Stop in to your local market and see what appeals to you!